The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-04-23
Diggles and the Alligator.
BY JOEL sLOPER.

Diggles and Folsby are brothers
in-law who live in the same brown
stone front up on madison avenue,
in New York, and are rather fond Of
playing practical jokes on each other
Folsby rather got the best of the fun
last week. Having seen a toy alli-
gator which automatically ran
around on top Of a table, Folsby
conceived the idea of having a stuff
fed specimen of the saurian family
rugged with a strong coiled spring
and wheels, so that being wound up,
il would rush around a room in u
circle with force enough sufficient to
upset chairs in its path.
When it was all ready Folsby had
it quietly conveyed into the house
one night through the backgate, and
when he heard Diggles snore in the
next room he proceeded to wind up
the alligator and have a little fun.
Diggles and Mrs. Diggles usually
slept with the door Of their room un-
locked. They also left the gas burn
ing low nights, both of which Gus
toms facilitated the fun which Fols-
by proposed. So, with the stuffed
saurian wound up to run about ten
minutes, he carried it in his arms to
Diggles' room, and, quietly pushing
open the door put the alligator on
the floor; and it seemed to know
Just what was expected of it judging
from the way it went round that
room and upset chairs and other
light furniture.
OF course Diggles and Mrs. Dig
giles awoke That is what Folsby
expected of them.
"Mercy on usw screamed Mrs.
Diggles. What is it?"
Get OUT" yelled Diggles, waking
up and jumping out of bed just as
the alligator came rushing over his
big toe.
Great heavens, Mariar, it's an al
ligatorw he shouted, as he could
see its outlines in the dim gas light,
and he gave jump on the bed
which broke through the stats and
landed both him and Mrs. Diggles
on the solid floor 1t will never be
known to history which of the two
climbed up first on the tall, orna-
mental headboard of the bedstead,
but Folsby thinks he recognized the
big, staring eyes of Diggles up there
about one-third Of a second before
he could see those of Mrs. d. at the
same elevation.
Diggles then began to call for
Folsby, who leaving his post of. OBJ
servation at the crack of the door,
silently glided up stairs and then
noisily came numbering down.
"What's the matter, Diggles p
asked Folsby
"There'e an alligator in the room.
Look out for it, yelled Diggles
from his secured position astride the
headboard.
"a horrid alligator screamed
Mrs. Diggies, nesting closer to Dig
giles up near the ceiling.
The automatic saurian had stuck
its nose against the bureau, from
which position it could not move.
and Folsby, taking Diggles' ivory
handled cane, pulled its nose clear
of the obstruction and rushed out of
the room, leaving Diggles and Mrs.
d. to their fate, as it again began
wild and hungry race around the
room. OF course, Diggles knew it
was after him, and Mrs. Diggles de-
clared that its horrid eyes were look
ing right at hers.
81 guess I'll take it upstairs now,
said Folsby, as he tucked it under
his arm and walked out, leaving
Diggles speechless for a few moments;
and then for the remainder of the
night he walked the hall floor in
front Of Folsby's room with his
breech-loading shotgun, waiting to
get Il pop at Folsby